Anyway, I was eager to follow-up when the book’s publication approached and now here we are, a week before the Artifact Edition (print run: 150) makes its debut at SDCC (more on that below). The fine folks at IDW came through with five pages of incredible, original art to show you here, especially Gibbons’ Page Zero — which project mastermind Scott Dunbier explained “was done for DC as a sample of the style the book would be. Note the page number in the bottom right corner.”

Just feast your eyes on this art and after that, check out how to get it, plus details on what has to be the most exclusive convention exclusive I’ve ever heard of.

It’s a three-hour affair in a secret location — think of it as the Minutemen’s HQ for the night — at a fancy restaurant in the Gaslamp District. If you’ve got the means, opportunity and desire, you get a special variant of the edition, of which there are only 25. As in 25, ever. It includes this special cover and bound-in plate for Gibbons to sign and do a sketch of your choice. “We wanted to do something really kind of unique, really that hasn’t been done before, to celebrate the launch of the Watchmen Artifact Edition since Watchmen is regarded as such an importamt book to comics and comics history,” Dunbier said.

Bought in the moment I saw the offer. Would have bought the new book from IDW anyway, and a MORE special edition…with dinner …and a sketch?? A no brainer. Fortunate I can afford it, and got into the con. Your pictures of the pages are brilliant. As I said, excited all over again.